Nissan helps Yokohama launch electric car-sharing service

Published: March 18, 2017 07:46 AM GMT+8

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The Choimobi Yokohama round-trip car sharing service launches in Yokohama. — Nissan/AFP picYOKOHAMA, March 18 — “Choimobi Yokohama” is a new round-trip car rental service that will let anyone with a driver's licence, credit card and smartphone borrow a compact electric city car.

The new service, which officially launched yesterday, uses Nissan's ultra-compact New Mobility Concept cars that are based on the Renault Twizzy. The car uses a 1+1 seating arrangement so that it is just half the width of even the average city car.

Similar to schemes operating in cities such as Paris, Choimobi Yokohama, the cars will be available at a host of locations near to Yokohama Station where they can be collected and returned. A flat fee is charged for using the service and then a further 250-yen per 15-minute charge levied.

Cars can be reserved with just 30 minutes' notice and can be driven anywhere within the city limits.

Once up and running, the service will expand to offer visitors guided tours of the city. — AFP-Relaxnews